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To contribute and learn more about the Goodfellows toy drive, please visit chron.com/goodfellows or call 713-362-2273. Checks can be sent to Goodfellows, c/o Houston Chronicle, 801 Texas Ave., Houston, TX 77002.

Margarita Diaz is one of thousands in Houston requesting help for her kids this Christmas.

Diaz did not just fall on hard times; she lives in hard times.

She has four children - ages 13, 9 (twins) and 3. Diaz also baby-sits other people's children, carving out a living as best she can.

Last week, John Eddie Williams Jr. and his wife, Sheridan, presented their annual $200,000 gift for Goodfellows to Houston Chronicle Chairman Jack Sweeney at the Diaz's Houston home. Over the last decade, the Williams family has donated more than $1.6 million to the toy-giving nonprofit.

"I am a big believer that children have an innocence, and they deserve a break in life," said John Eddie Williams, when asked why Goodfellows was the target of the couple's philanthropy. Sheridan Williams added, "Kids are going to have issues to come, but especially at Christmas time, they deserve to have presents, smiles on their faces."

Last year, the generosity from donors like the Williams family enabled the century-old Goodfellows program to provide toys to nearly 60,000 children in almost 18,000 families.

Sheridan Williams said she found it especially gratifying to deliver bikes and toys to the Diaz family that had been donated through Goodfellows. She said there were times growing up when her father had to say "No, we don't have enough money for bikes this year."

Diaz lives in a run-down apartment complex in Southwest Houston. Bricks are strewn around the courtyard. Across the street is an empty strip mall. It's hard to imagine children playing here.

Diaz moved from Mexico seven years ago. She left her homeland with her husband, but he left, and she and their kids have not seen him for more than four years.

She met her current husband here in Houston, and they have 3-year-old George.

George's father gives Diaz money, but it is not enough to sustain her and the rest of the family.

Margarita Castillo, Diaz's mother, also lives in the tiny apartment with her 9-year-old son, Diaz's little brother. Castillo also provides child care to make money. The mother-daughter duo work together to bring in an income and care for the kids.

Even under such dire circumstances, the apartment has a cheery blue and silvery tree with lights. The floors are clean and the apartment is warm.

There's a small dog keeping watch over the doors and windows. The mother and daughter share smiles and knowing glances, revealing the close partnership between them.

Diaz needs help in finding a more stable income, clothes for her children and brother, food and money for rent.

Goodfellows is able to provide toys and bicycles because of the donations made by generous Houstonians. For that, Diaz thanked her visitors over and over.